Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-02-02
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"And take the only man we have, and
leave you alones" returned Kate slowly.
"No!"
"There are the Chinese field hands," said
Mrs. Hale; "you must correct your IDEAS,
and really allow them somo humanity, Kate
John says they have very good compulsory
school system in their own country, and can
read and write"
"Tbat would be of little use to you here
alone if-if"-Kate hesitated
"If what2" said Mrs. Hale, smiling. "Are
you thinking of Manuel's dreadful story Of
the grizzly tracks across the fields this morn
ing2 I promise you that neither nor
mother, nor Minnie, shall stir out of the house
until your return, if you wish it."
II wasn't thinking of that" said Kate;
though don't believe the beating of gong
and the using OF strong language is the best
way to frighten grizzly from the house.
Besides, the Chinese are going down the river
to-day to funeral, or wedding, or feast
of stolen chickens-thcy're all the same-and
won't be here"
"Then take Manuel" repeated Mrs Hale.
awe have the Chinese servants and Indian
Molly in the house to protect lis from Heaven
in Chy-Lee as warrior, and in Chinese war
fare generally. One has only to hear him
pipe in time of peace to imagine what terror
he might become in war time Indeed, any
thing more deadly and soul-harrowing than
that love song he sang for us last night can
not conceive. But really, Kate, am not
afraid to stay alone. You know what John
says: we ought to be always prepared for
anything that might happen"
"My dear JOSIE" returned Kate, putting
her arm around her sisters waist, Il am per-
fectly convinced that if Three-fngcred Jack,
or Two-toed Bill, or even Joaquin Murietta
himself should step, red handed, OH that ve-
randa you would gently invite him to take a
cup of tea, inquire about the state of the
road, and refrain delicataly from any allu-
sions to the sheriff. But I sha'n't take
Manuel from you. I really cannot under
take to look after his morals at the station,
and keep him from drinking aguardiente
with suspicious characters at the bar 1t is
true he kisses my hand in bis speech, even
when it is thickest, and offers his back to me
for a horse block, but l think l prefer the
sober and honest familiarity of even that
Pike county landlord who is satisfied to say,
Jump, girl, and I'll ketch yen"
II hope you didn't change your manner to
either of them for that" said Mrs Hale with
O faint sigh, "John wants to be good friends
with them, and they are behaving quite
decently lately, considering that they can't
speak grammatical sentence nor know the
use Of fork"
"And now the man puts on gloves and
tall hat to come here Oh Sundays, and the
woman won't call until you've called first"
retorted Kate; "perhaps you call that im-
provement. The fact is, Josephine" con-
tinued the young girl, folding her arms de-
murely, "we might as we'll admit it at once
these people don't like u.s.
"That's impossibfe!" said Mrs. Hale. with
sublime simplicity "You don't like them,
you mean"
II like them better than you do, Josie, and
that's the reason why feel it and you don't"
She checked herself, and after u pause re-
sumed in lighter tone: "No; sla'm't so to
the station; III commune with nature to-day,
and won't take any humanity in mine, thank
you,' as Bill the driver says. Adios."
~ wish Kate would not use that dreadful
slang, even in jest" said Mrs Scott, in her
rocking chair at the French window, when
Josephine re.entered the parlor as her sister
walked briskly away. II am afraid she is
being infected by the people at the station.
Sbe ought to have change"
II was just thinking, said Josephine, look
ing abstractedly at her mother, 'that would
try to get John to take her to San Francisco
this winter. The Careys are expected, you
know; she might visit them"
"Tm afraid if she stays here much longer
she won't care to see them at all. She seems
to care for nothing now that she ever liked
before" returned the old lady oniinously.